Radio communication system, communication device, and relay device

Abstract

Disclosed is a technique in which, when no reliability exists between a previous communication device and a destination communication device with respect to a mobile terminal, a context which is setting information needed for making a connection of the mobile terminal to a network is transferred at a high speed from the previous communication device to the destination communication device. According to this technique, before movement, a mobile terminal 101 is connected to a previous AR (access router) while, after the movement, it is connected to a destination AR 202 having no direct reliability with the previous AR 201 . A relay AR 501 has the reliability with both the previous AR 201 and the destination AR 202 and relays connection therebetween. The previous AR 201 transmits a context through the relay AR 501 to the destination AR 202 before the movement of the mobile terminal 101 . After the reception of the context, upon receipt of an active request for a connection from the mobile terminal 101 which has moved, the destination AR 202 authenticates the mobile terminal 101 by use of the context it has received.

1 . A radio communication system comprising:
 a first communication device connected through radio to a mobile terminal;   a second communication device with which said mobile terminal is placed through radio into connection after movement; and   at least one relay device made to relay a connection between said first communication device and said second communication device,   only devices having reliability with each other being connectable with each other,   said first communication device having no direct reliability with said second communication device, and said first communication device transmitting terminal information on said mobile terminal through at least said one relay device to said second communication device.   
     
     
         2 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said first communication device transmits the terminal information, said second communication device which is a destination side of said mobile terminal is already specified and said second communication device specified is a transmission addressee of the terminal information. 
     
     
         3 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when said first communication device transmits the terminal information, said second communication device which is not specified is a transmission addressee of the terminal information. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information through at least said one relay device to said second communication device before the movement of said mobile terminal and,
 when receiving a connection request from said mobile terminal after reception of the terminal information from at least said one relay device, said second communication device authenticates said mobile terminal on the basis of the terminal information and makes a connection of said mobile terminal.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information to at least said one relay device before the movement of said mobile terminal and,
 upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device and,   upon receipt of both the terminal information and the request message, at least said one relay device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits the terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device.   
     
     
         8 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information to at least said one relay device before the movement of said mobile terminal,
 upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device, and   upon receipt of both the terminal information and the request message, at least said one relay device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits a response message for notification of the occurrence of a request for the terminal information on said mobile terminal directly or through at least one different relay device to said first communication device.   
     
     
         9 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information to at least said one relay device before the movement of said mobile terminal,
 upon receipt of the terminal information, at least said one relay device transmits a terminal information retention message for notification of retention of the terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device,   upon receipt of both the terminal information retention message and a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device which retains the terminal information, and   at least said one relay device which retains the terminal information and which has received the request message authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits the terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device.   
     
     
         10 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information to at least said one relay device before movement of said mobile terminal,
 upon receipt of the terminal information, at least said one relay device transmits a terminal information retention message for notification of the retention of the terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device,   upon receipt of both the terminal information retention message and a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device which retains the terminal information, and   at least said one relay device which retains the terminal information and which has received the request message authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits a response message, which is for notification of a request of the terminal information on said mobile terminal, directly or through at least one different relay device to said first communication device.   
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information through at least said one relay device to said second communication device before movement of said mobile terminal, and
 upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal after reception of the terminal information from at least said one relay device, said second communication device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the terminal information and makes a connection of said mobile terminal and, after the connection of said mobile terminal, transmits a response message for notification of the connection of said mobile terminal through at least said one relay device to said first communication device,   the terminal information including the record of the number of hops taken until the arrival at said second communication while the response message including the number of hops recorded in the terminal information.   
     
     
         16 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits first terminal information through at least said one relay device to said second communication device before movement of said mobile terminal and,
 upon receipt of a connection requirement from said mobile terminal after reception of the first terminal information from at least said one relay device, said second communication device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the first terminal information and makes a connection of said mobile terminal and transmits second terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to a third connection device which becomes a destination at further movement of said mobile terminal,   the first terminal information transmitted from said first communication device including the record of the number of hops taken until the arrival at said second communication device, and   in the second terminal information transmitted from said second communication device, the number of hops recorded in the first terminal information and taken until the arrival at said second communication device or a value larger than this number of hops being set as an upper limit value of the number of hops of the second terminal information.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits the terminal information to at least said one relay device before movement of said mobile terminal,
 upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device, and   upon receipt of both the terminal information and the request message, at least said one relay device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits a response message for notification of the occurrence of a request for the terminal information on said mobile terminal directly or through at least one different relay device to said first communication device,   the terminal information transmitted from said first communication device including the record of a first number of hops taken until the arrival at said relay device,   the request message transmitted from said second communication device including the record of a second number of hops taken until the arrival at said relay device, and   in said relay device which has received both the terminal information and the request message, the response message including both the first number of hops and the second number of hops or information on the sum total of the numbers of hops.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein said first communication device transmits first terminal information to at least said one relay device before movement of said mobile terminal,
 upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal, said second communication device transmits a request message, which is for transmission of the first terminal information to said second communication device, to at least said one relay device, and   upon receipt of both the first terminal information and the request message, at least said one relay device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message and transmits second terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device,   the first terminal information transmitted from said first communication device including the record of a first number of hops taken until the arrival at said relay device,   the request message transmitted from said second communication device including the record of a second number of hops taken until the arrival at said relay device, and   in said relay device which has received both the first terminal information and the request message, the second terminal information including both the first number of hops and the second number of hops or information on the sum total of the numbers of hops.   
     
     
         21 . The radio communication system according to  claim 1 , wherein, upon receipt of a connection request from said mobile terminal after reception of the second terminal information including both the first number of hops and the second number of hops or information on the sum total of numbers of hops, said second communication device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the second terminal information and makes a connection of said mobile terminal and transmits third terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to a third communication device which becomes a destination at further movement of the said mobile terminal, and
 in the third terminal information transmitted from said second communication device, a value of the sum of the first number of hops and the second number of hops or a value larger than this value is set as an upper limit of the number of hops of the third terminal information.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A communication device constituting a radio communication system, enabling a connection between only devices having reliability with each other, along with at least one relay device and connected through radio to a mobile terminal, wherein, when a connection partner of said mobile terminal is changed from said communication device to a different communication device due to movement of said mobile terminal, said communication device has no direct reliability with said different communication device, and said communication device transmits terminal information on said mobile terminal through at least said relay device to said different communication device. 
     
     
         24 . The communication device according to  claim 23 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving, through at least said one relay device, a request message transmitted from said different communication device which has received a connection request from said mobile terminal;   an authentication processing unit for authenticating said mobile terminal by use of the request message; and   a message transmitting unit for, when said mobile terminal is authenticated, transmitting the terminal information through at least said one relay device to said different communication device.   
     
     
         25 . The communication device according to  claim 23 , comprising a message transmitting unit for, before movement of said mobile terminal, transmitting the terminal information through at least said one relay device to said different communication device. 
     
     
         26 . The communication device according to  claim 23 , wherein the terminal information includes a count value of the number of hops and an upper limit value of the number of hops. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The communication device according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving, through at least said one relay device, a response message transmitted from said different communication device, which has received a connection request from said mobile terminal, or from said relay device;   a message creating unit for, when the response message includes a first number of hops up to said different communication device which is a destination of said mobile terminal, a second number of hops up to said relay device and a third number of hops from said relay device up to said different communication device which is the destination or information indicative of a value of the sum of the second number of hops and the third number of hops, calculating a fourth number of hops up to said different communication device to create a transmission message in which the fourth number of hops is added to the terminal information; and   a message transmitting unit for transmitting the transmission message through at least said one relay device to said different communication device.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A communication device constituting a radio communication system, enabling a connection between only devices having reliability with each other, along with at least one relay device and connected through radio to a mobile terminal, wherein, when a connection partner of said mobile terminal is changed from a different communication device to said communication device due to movement of said mobile terminal, said communication device has no direct reliability with said different communication device, and said communication device receives terminal information on said mobile terminal from said different communication device through at least said relay device. 
     
     
         31 . The communication device according to  claim 30 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving a connection request from said mobile terminal;   a message creating unit for creating a request message for transmission of the terminal information from said different communication device; and   a message transmitting unit for transmitting the request message through at least said one relay device to said different communication device,
 said message receiving unit receiving the terminal information, transmitted from said different communication device, through at least said one relay device after said different communication device authenticates said mobile terminal by use of the request message, and 
   a message analyzing unit for making a judgment as to whether the message received by said message receiving unit is the connection request or the terminal information.   
     
     
         32 . The communication device according to  claim 30 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving the terminal information retention message through at least said one relay device and then receiving a connection request from said mobile terminal;   a message creating unit for creating a request message for transmission of the terminal information from said relay device which has transmitted the terminal information retention message; and   a message transmitting unit for, after the reception of the connection request from said mobile terminal, transmitting the request message through at least said one relay device to said relay device which has transmitted the terminal information retention message.   
     
     
         33 . The communication device according to  claim 30 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving the terminal information, transmitted from said different communication device, through at least said one relay device before movement of said mobile terminal and for then receiving a connection request from said mobile terminal;   a message analyzing unit for making a judgment as to whether a message received by said message receiving unit is the connection request or the terminal information;   an authentication processing unit for authenticating said mobile terminal by use of the terminal information; and   a mobile terminal communication setting unit for, when said mobile terminal is authenticated, carrying out connection setting on said mobile terminal by use of the terminal information.   
     
     
         34 . The communication device according to  claim 33 , comprising:
 a message creating unit for, after the connection of said mobile terminal, creating a response message for notifying the connection of said mobile terminal; and   a message transmitting unit for transmitting the response message through at least said one relay device to said different communication device.   
     
     
         35 . The communication device according to  claim 33 , comprising a message transmitting unit for, after the connection of said mobile terminal, transmitting the terminal information through at least said one relay device to said different communication device which becomes a destination of said mobile terminal. 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The communication device according to  claim 34 , wherein the response message includes information indicative of the number of hops from said communication device to said different communication device. 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A relay device constituting a radio communication system, enabling a connection between only devices having reliability with each other, along with a first communication device connected through radio to a mobile terminal before movement and a second communication device connected through radio to said mobile terminal after movement and having no direct reliability with said first communication device, and made to relay terminal information on said mobile terminal which is to be transmitted from said first communication device to said second communication device. 
     
     
         41 . The relay device according to  claim 40 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving the terminal information transmitted from said first communication device before the movement of said mobile terminal and for, when said second communication device receives a connection request from said mobile terminal, receiving a request message transmitted from said second communication device for transmission of the terminal information from said first communication device to said second communication device;   a message analyzing unit for making a judgment as to whether the message received by said message receiving unit is the terminal information or the request message;   an authentication processing unit for, when said message analyzing unit makes a judgment that the message is the request message, authenticating said mobile terminal by use of the request message; and   a message transmitting unit for, when said mobile terminal is authenticated, transmitting the terminal information directly or through at least one different relay device to said second communication device.   
     
     
         42 . The relay device according to  claim 40 , comprising:
 a message receiving unit for receiving the terminal information transmitted from said first communication device before the movement of said mobile terminal and for, when said second communication device receives a connection request from said mobile terminal, receiving a request message transmitted from said second communication device for transmission of the terminal information from said first communication device to said second communication device;   a message analyzing unit for making a judgment as to whether the message received by said message receiving unit is the terminal information or the request message;   an authentication processing unit for, when said message analyzing unit makes a judgment that the message is the request message, authenticating said mobile terminal by use of the request message;   a message creating unit for, when said mobile terminal is authenticated, creating a response message for notifying the authentication of said mobile terminal; and   a message transmitting unit for transmitting the response message directly or through at least one different relay device to said first communication device.   
     
     
         43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . (canceled)